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Ciaran

Boy name · 2,033 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Ciaran: 2,033 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 118 births in 2004.

Ciaran, a name of Irish and Scottish Gaelic origin, comes from the word *ciar* meaning "dark" or "black," and is often interpreted as "little dark one." It was borne by several early Irish saints, most notably Saint Ciaran of Clonmacnoise, a 6th-century monastic founder and one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland. The name also connects to the Scottish island of Kintyre, whose name shares the same Gaelic root. In modern times, it has been popularised by actors such as Ciarán Hinds and Ciarán McMenamin. The spelling Ciaran is common in Scotland, while the Irish form Ciarán uses a fada accent, and the feminine equivalent is Ciara.